Lotito Foods
Lotito Foods is a fourth-generation, family-owned Italian cheese manufacturer and specialty foods importer based in Edison, NJ, operating a 118,000 sq ft SQF Level 3 facility with 45 million pounds of annual capacity. It serves multi-unit foodservice operators, food manufacturers, distributors, and importers/cheese makers through B2B sales, custom formulations, and precision cheese conversion services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1952
- HeadquartersEdison, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Lotito Foods does
Lotito Foods, Inc. is a fourth-generation, family-owned Italian cheese manufacturer and specialty foods importer headquartered at a 118,000 sq ft SQF Level 3 certified facility in Edison, New Jersey. The company produces a broad portfolio of domestic Italian-style cheeses (Parmesan, Romano, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Asiago, Fontina, blends, and dairy products) and imports authentic Italian DOP specialties (Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, Grana Padano, Calabrian chili, Tropea onions, artichokes, pasta) under sub-brands including Gabriella of Italy, Suprema, and the innovation line Folios. Lotito operates seven production lines with roughly 45 million pounds of annual capacity, a $3M+ precision cutting platform that delivers 22% better conversion yields, and an in-house R&D lab and test kitchen supported by a culinary center at the Universita dei Sapori in Perugia, Italy.
The business serves four primary B2B customer segments: multi-unit foodservice operators, food manufacturers, distributors, and importers/cheese makers, via a hybrid enterprise field sales and inside sales motion. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales of cheese, dairy, and imported specialties, plus professional services revenue from cheese conversion, co-packing, and private label packaging. Pricing is quote-based, determined by volume, format, and customization, and is anchored by multi-year contracts with technical support from a dedicated account team rather than a call center. Exclusivity is reinforced by SQF Level 3 and FSMA 204 compliance and direct, long-standing sourcing relationships with small Italian regional cooperatives that yield exclusive DOP import rights.
The company is independently owned, has never raised institutional capital, and has grown organically from a 1,500 sq ft operation in the 1980s to a national-scale platform under President Chris Lotito. Its stated ethos is relationship-driven, low-leverage growth rather than scale for its own sake, and its strategic emphasis is on capacity reliability, R&D-driven custom formulations, and exclusive Italian sourcing as the primary competitive levers.
Lotito Foods firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lotito Foods
- Legal name
- Lotito Foods, Inc.
- Website
- https://lotitofoods.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1952
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Lotito Foods is a fourth-generation, family-owned Italian cheese manufacturer and specialty foods importer based in Edison, NJ, operating a 118,000 sq ft SQF Level 3 facility with 45 million pounds of annual capacity. It serves multi-unit foodservice operators, food manufacturers, distributors, and importers/cheese makers through B2B sales, custom formulations, and precision cheese conversion services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lotito Foods industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Italian Cheese Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Cheese Manufacturing (311513)
- SIC
- Dairy Products (2020)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grated, Shredded & Sliced Cheese Manufacturing (Value-Added Cuts) (AFAHABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cheese Blending & Formulation (Retail & Foodservice Blends) (AFAHABAG), Cheese Packaging & Portioning (Retail Packs, Snack Packs, Singles) (AFAHABAI), Cheese Wholesale (AFAIAEAC)
Keywords
Where Lotito Foods is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Lotito Foods business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Cheese and Dairy Product Sales: Manufactures and sells Italian cheeses (Parmesan, Romano, Mozzarella, Cheddar, specialty blends) in foodservice formats. Products include grated, shredded, shaved, wheel, and block formats. Private label and co-packing available.
- Italian Specialty Imports: Imports and distributes authentic Italian specialty foods including DOP cheeses, Calabrian chili products, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and pasta. Direct sourcing from Italian regional producers.
- Conversion and Co-Packing Services: Converts whole cheese wheels into exact-weight portions for importers and cheese makers. Provides private label packaging, wedging, slicing, and portioning services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quote-based pricing for B2B customers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels2 records
Lotito Foods product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lotito Foods manufactures Italian-style cheeses (Parmesan, Romano, Mozzarella, Cheddar, and specialty blends) in grated, shredded, shaved, wheel, and block formats for foodservice and food manufacturer customers. The company also imports and distributes DOP-certified Italian specialty foods (Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, Grana Padano, Calabrian chili products, Tropea onions, artichokes) under the Gabriella of Italy, Suprema, and Folios sub-brands. In addition, it provides precision cheese conversion and private label co-packing services that transform whole cheese wheels into exact-weight portions for importers, cheese makers, and brand owners.
Product overview
Lotito Foods operates as a cheese-focused food manufacturing and import company with a platform-plus-brands architecture. The core Lotito brand encompasses 100+ products across domestic cheese manufacturing (grated, shredded, shaved, wheels, blocks of Parmesan, Romano, Asiago, Fontina, mozzarella, cheddar, and blends) plus dairy/pantry items (flavored butters, cannoli creams, tomato products). Three sub-brands extend the portfolio: Gabriella of Italy handles imported Italian DOP specialties including Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, Grana Padano, and regional Italian products (Tropea onions, Calabrian chili paste, artichokes, pasta); Suprema offers aged imported Romano and Parmesan; and Folios provides par-baked cheese wraps (100% cheese, zero carbs). The company also operates cheese conversion services for importers and cheese makers needing precision portioning from whole wheels to retail cuts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gabriella of Italy: The finest aged, imported artisan cheeses sourced directly from Italy, including DOP-certified products like Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano, and specialty items like Tropea onions and Calabrian chili paste.
- Folios
- Suprema
Products and services
- Gabriella of Italy Sub-brand focused on importing and distributing genuine Italian specialty foods directly from small family-run producers in Italy. Includes DOP-certified cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano, and Sicilian Pecorino, plus regional Italian products such as Tropea onions, Calabrian chili paste, Pugliese artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, olive products, gluten-free rigatoni, and cantuccini biscuits. Targeted at foodservice operators, manufacturers, and distributors seeking authentic Italian menu differentiation.
- Folios Par-Baked Cheese Wraps Branded product line of par-baked 100% cheese wraps in Parmesan, Cheddar, and Jarlsberg varieties with zero carbs. Designed as a labor-saving, keto-friendly bread substitute for foodservice operators and retail applications.
- Suprema Aged Imported Cheeses Sub-brand offering aged imported Romano and Parmesan cheeses positioned as a trusted source for two classic Italian varieties. Targeted at foodservice and retail customers.
- Lotito Parmesan Cheese Line Complete line of Parmesan cheese products in grated, shredded, shaved, and shelf-stable formats, including imported, domestic, and blend options. Sold to foodservice operators and food manufacturers for chain-ready applications.
- Lotito Romano and Pecorino Cheese Line Full range of Romano cheeses including grated Romano in imported, domestic, and blend varieties, plus shredded Romano and imported Pecorino Romano DOP. Sold to foodservice and manufacturer customers.
- Lotito Specialty Italian and European Cheese Line Specialty cheese portfolio including Asiago, Fontina, Italian cheese blends, Caesar blend (Parmesan-Romano-Asiago), and shredded Jarlsberg. Targeted at foodservice and manufacturer customers seeking differentiated menu options.
- Lotito Mozzarella, Cheddar, and Blend Line Core domestic cheese portfolio featuring shredded mozzarella, fresh mozzarella loaves, white and colored cheddar, pizza blend (mozzarella, provolone, Asiago), and ricotta impastata. Sold to foodservice operators and food manufacturers.
- Lotito Dairy and Butter Blend Line Compound dairy products including flavored butters (lemon garlic, garlic herb, shallot herb), cannoli creams, savory whipped feta, lemon ricotta, sweet cream cheese, and five-cheese lasagna and ziti mix. Sold as labor-saving, ready-to-use solutions for foodservice and manufacturers.
- Lotito Tomatoes Product Line Sun-dried tomato products in various cuts and formats including halves in oil, julienne cuts, imported whole halves, and diced marinated varieties. Sold to foodservice operators and food manufacturers.
- Cheese Conversion and Co-Packing Services Precision cutting and portioning services that transform whole cheese wheels into exact-weight portions, including wedging, custom slicing, retail-ready portions, foodservice cuts, specialty formats, and private label packaging. 48-hour turnaround, FSMA 204 compliant, with $3M+ precision equipment enabling 22% better yields than typical processing. Targeted at cheese importers and Italian cheese makers.
- Lotito Cheese Wheels, Blocks, and Cuts Whole wheels, blocks, and cut portions of aged Italian and European cheeses including Grana Padano, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, Sicilian Pecorino, domestic blocks, Jarlsberg, and Gruyère. Sold to foodservice operators, distributors, and cheese importers for portioning or further processing.
Quantifiable outcome
- 45 million pounds annual production capacity ensuring supply reliability
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Lotito Foods
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Lotito Foods technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Lotito Foods partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Italian Regional CooperativescoreDirect sourcing relationships with small family-run Italian cheese producers and regional cooperatives. Longstanding relationships enabling exclusive DOP cheese access and authentic Italian product sourcing.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lotito Foods competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sargento Foods: Privately held, family-run US cheese manufacturer specializing in shredded, sliced, and grated cheese formats for foodservice and retail—Lotito's closest direct analog in scale, customer base, and value-added cut format.
- Grande Cheese Company: Privately held Italian-style and specialty cheese manufacturer (Parmesan, Romano, Asiago, mozzarella) selling through foodservice and ingredient channels—a direct competitor in Lotito's domestic specialty cheese portfolio.
- Masters Gallery Foods: Privately held cheese converter offering shredding, slicing, and portioning services to foodservice and retail private label—directly comparable to Lotito's cheese conversion services and value-added cut formats.
- Arthur Schuman Master CheeseMakers: US-based importer and distributor of Italian and European specialty cheeses (Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, Asiago) for foodservice and retail—a direct competitor in Lotito's Gabriella of Italy / DOP import franchise.
- Atalanta Corporation: US importer and specialty foodservice distributor with deep Italian cheese and antipasti portfolio—directly comparable to Lotito's Gabriella of Italy import business and distributor-segment GTM.
Broad incumbents
- Leprino Foods: World's largest mozzarella manufacturer and dominant foodservice/ingredient cheese supplier—a much larger incumbent competing with Lotito on mozzarella, pizza blend, and CPG ingredient supply.
- Saputo Inc. Public global dairy giant with broad cheese manufacturing and specialty import capabilities—competes with Lotito in mozzarella, cheddar, and Italian-style cheese categories for foodservice and ingredient customers.
- Hilmar Cheese Company: Large private US cheese and whey ingredients manufacturer with foodservice and ingredient exposure—comparable in operating model and customer base, though more concentrated in cheddar and dairy ingredients.
- Bel Group (The Laughing Cow / Babybel / The Bel Group USA): Global cheese and dairy company with significant US foodservice and ingredient operations including mozzarella and specialty cheeses—competes with Lotito on CPG ingredient supply and co-manufacturing.
- Agropur Cooperative: Large North American dairy cooperative with a broad cheese manufacturing portfolio serving foodservice and ingredient customers—comparable in foodservice and private-label channels, though broader in dairy scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lotito Foods social profiles
Digital presenceLotito Foods compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Lotito Foods financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lotito Foods leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Lotito Foods funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lotito Foods M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lotito Foods
What does Lotito Foods do?
Lotito Foods manufactures Italian-style cheeses (Parmesan, Romano, Mozzarella, Cheddar, and specialty blends) in grated, shredded, shaved, wheel, and block formats for foodservice and food manufacturer customers. The company also imports and distributes DOP-certified Italian specialty foods (Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, Grana Padano, Calabrian chili products, Tropea onions, artichokes) under the Gabriella of Italy, Suprema, and Folios sub-brands. In addition, it provides precision cheese conversion and private label co-packing services that transform whole cheese wheels into exact-weight portions for importers, cheese makers, and brand owners.
Is Lotito Foods a public or private company?
Lotito Foods is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Lotito Foods founded?
Lotito Foods was founded in 1952. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Lotito Foods based?
Lotito Foods is headquartered in Edison, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lotito Foods make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Cheese and Dairy Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are italian Specialty Imports and conversion and Co-Packing Services.
Who are Lotito Foods's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sargento Foods, Grande Cheese Company, Masters Gallery Foods, Arthur Schuman Master CheeseMakers and Atalanta Corporation. Broad incumbents are Leprino Foods, Saputo Inc., Hilmar Cheese Company, Bel Group (The Laughing Cow / Babybel / The Bel Group USA) and Agropur Cooperative.
Does Lotito Foods have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lotito Foods.
What industry is Lotito Foods in?
Lotito Foods's product category is Specialty Italian Cheese Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAHABAF, Grated, Shredded & Sliced Cheese Manufacturing (Value-Added Cuts), with a secondary code of AFAHABAG, Cheese Blending & Formulation (Retail & Foodservice Blends). Its NAICS code is 311513 and its SIC code is 2020.